Patience (Perseverance) Under Trials

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4, NKJV)

Eugene Peterson in The Message Bible translates these verses in James in this way: "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."

James wrote in a day when Christians were enduring (and would endure more) persecution. He wanted his readers (and hearers, if we consider James' letter to also be his sermon) to rejoice in trials and tribulations. IT is hard to smile through severe troubles. Tears are the usual response. But it is different with a Christian. He has a burden-bearer, someone who walks alongside and helps to bear any burdens. When we have trials, they help us develop patience (perseverance). It is a fruit of the Spirit, as we see in Galatians 5:22. The result of our patiently bearing up through trials is our own Christian maturity. We either break or grow through trials. James strongly encourages us to see trials as for our own good, to help us develop patience and endurance and to grow toward completeness, so that our faith lacks nothing. When we consider it, this is a very big order for a Christian. We had rather have smooth sailing through life. But rarely is that the situation. One thing we can be certain of: trials do come to the Christian. It is how we handle them, how our faith reacts, that makes the difference.

When I consider my own life in retrospect, I can think of trying times as periods of growth and development in faith. Trials and troubles send us to our knees, humble us, cause us to cry out to God for help. "Through trail to triumph" could well be the Christian's motto, because if we persevere, we come through stronger and more mature. Paul also gave us excellent advice on handling our trials in I Thessalonians 5:18: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Do I rejoice in trials? Do I thank God for troubles? Do I see them as blessings that help me to grow into Christian maturity? If I can sincerely answer "Yes" to these questions, I just may be growing into the person God intends for me to be. "Rejoice evermore!" (I Thessalonians 5:16). Let us thank God for and rejoice in trials, for they are for our benefit, helping us to grow into maturity in Christ.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, October 9, 2010